Discover Top Posts Tagged with #this guy though

The Things We Do For Love

[insert corny title here^] fair warning, this bad boy is looong

Summary: Lizzie’s life has been great, but a fight with her girlfriend puts their relationship in jeopardy. Her life falls apart all at once, and she has to go into the Underland alone, something she has avoided doing her whole life. She fights her anxiety and fears of losing those she loves to bring an urgent message to her brother.

Lizzie looked at the clock again, only seven minutes had passed. Her fingers tapped rapidly on the desk, her chin resting on her other hand. She scooted some papers around and habitually saved her open documents though she knew she hadn't touched them. With her foot shaking wildly under her desk and her lip between her teeth she glanced at the time. What had felt like twenty minutes had only been four. She stood up suddenly, scaring her sleeping cat, resigned in that her work day was over. Working from home had its benefits, even if accounting was incredibly boring. Lizzie walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge though she wasn't hungry. She glanced sideways at the oven and sighed like she had expected the journey down the hallway to take longer than two minutes. It was creeping closer to 6:20, when her girlfriend would be home from work if she decided to come home at all.

A ball of nerves erupted in Lizzie's stomach when she thought of her and Corrine's fight last night. It started to creep into her throat and Lizzie focused on her breathing. She counted her fingers repeatedly, focusing on the feeling of touching each finger. The nerves retreated back into her stomach but she couldn't banish them. She rested her forehead on the fridge and tried to stop dwelling on everything she had said during their fight last night. Lizzie started listing as many things that live in the ocean as she could, but stopped after six. Nothing was working.

Lizzie and Corrine have only had one real fight in their three years and it was about Corrine's brother. It was always about him. But it had never been as bad as last night. Lizzie couldn't help her anger when she came home to him on their couch, already surrounded with dirty dishes and their fridge practically empty. Corrine knew how Lizzie felt about Gavin, and to not even let her know that he was staying with them? Anger filled Lizzie again, but the worry dissipated it quickly. She wanted to be able to work through this, and she would have to calm down to do that. Her throat tightened when she remembered all the terrible things they had said last night.

She felt her cat at her ankle and she walked over to his bowl to feed him. The door opened behind her and she spun to watch Corrine walk in. Lizzie stood where she was though she just wanted to grab her girlfriend and never let go. Corrine took off her coat and hung it up without looking at Lizzie. Lizzie wanted so badly to brush the hair out of her face. A messy ponytail was a tell-tale sign she had had a rough day at work.

Corrine started walking toward Lizzie before she lifted her eyes and Lizzie met her halfway. They held each other tight.

“That smells good,” Corrine said, meaning the slow cooker Lizzie had started this morning.

“Chicken tacos” Lizzie replied with a small laugh.

Lizzie's phone rang from her back pocket and Corrine grabbed it and read it from behind Lizzie's back.

“It's your sister,” she said, beginning to let Lizzie go.

“She'll text me if it's important.” Lizzie tightened her grip on Corrine.

Corrine put the phone on the counter next to them and almost immediately after it stopped ringing it began again.

Lizzie sighed and picked it up, answering a bit annoyed.

The second Boot's began talking Lizzie stopped breathing. Her heart dropped and her throat closed.

“Liz? Liz breathe.” Corrine's worried voice was barely louder than Lizzie's heartbeat in her ears.

“Lizzie you need to go get Gregor. Is that Corrine I hear? Let me talk to her.” Boots' tinny voice said. Lizzie started to function again at the command.

“Gregor,” she said, “ I'll go get Gregor. Get us plane tickets. I'll need a couple hours to get us to the airport, but we'll be there tonight.” Lizzie regretted not going to visit her parents with Boots, but was also glad she didn't or they wouldn't have been able to reach Gregor so fast.

“Hurry Lizzie.” Boots hung up and Lizzie spun out of Corrine's grasp and into actions, ignoring how lightheaded she was and Corrine's questions. The bag. She needed the backpack. Where had she put it?

“Have you seen the blue backpack?” Lizzie asked.

“It's on the shelf in the office closet.” Corrine answered, following Lizzie as she searched frantically. “Please, hun, what is it?”

“It's my dad, “Lizzie choked out, “he had a heart attack. It's-” She stopped talking to avoid crying. She had to hold it together.

Lizzie fought off Corrine's hug, “I need to go, I'm sorry.”

“Where?”

“I have to go get Gregor. He needs to know. He needs to be there. I have to get him I have to-”

“Elizabeth. Liz.” Corrine won and held Lizzie tightly, “breathe, please.”

Lizzie tried her best to take deep breaths and calm down. She couldn't drive like this.

“Why do you need to get Gregor? Wouldn't it be faster if you both flew separately?” Corrine asked, grabbing the blue backpack from the shelf and unceremoniously spilling its contents.

Flashlights, a headlamp, a ton of batteries, an odd looking whistle, and two knives.

“What?”

“I don't have time to explain, I was gonna-” Lizzie took a breath, it was getting easier with a goal in sight, “I was gonna tell you but now is not the time. This isn't- not like this, please just-just let me go.” Lizzie shoved everything back into the backpack and headed toward the door, Corrine right behind her.

“You're not going anywhere like that, I'll drive you.”

“No, you can't- you're not ready. You'll just slow- I can't tell you now.” Lizzie's breath started to shorten again at the thought of Corrine coming with her. She wasn't ready, neither of them were.

Corrine grabbed Lizzie's keys out of her hand. “You're not driving anywhere like this Liz, I don't know what you're keeping from me, and you don't have to explain anything right now, but I'm coming with you, like it or not. Come on.”

Corrine reached for Lizzie's hand and held it tightly, dragging her out the door and to her car. Lizzie's body couldn't figure out if this was better or worse.

Corrine's car was already warm and smelled of her. The passenger seat a familiar place, Lizzie couldn't help the tears. Corrine backed out of their driveway and placed a hand on Lizzie's thigh.

“Where am I going, honey?”

“Ce-Central Park.” Lizzie choked out. Corrine only let her curiosity show for a second before driving to the highway, much faster than normal.

The almost hour drive felt like a whole day to Lizzie, but Corrine's hand never left her thigh. Corrine sang softly to the upbeat songs on the radio, exuding calm for Lizzie to leach off of. Tears streamed down Lizzie's face, half because of her dad, half because she was about the go into the Underland alone. She was barely able to fight off an anxiety attack, but she was doing it.

The need to get Gregor was strong enough to hold back her fear, she was ready. When she knew they were close she started gathering her things, pulling out a flashlight from the backpack, telling Corrine to stop anywhere, it would be faster to walk through the park.

“You're not going alone, wherever it is you're going.”

“You don't-”

“You are not going alone, Liz. Put your seatbelt back on.” Corrine drove like a maniac, almost getting into an accident multiple times before stealing a parking spot from someone backing in. Lizzie jumped out of the car, Corrine behind her with a middle finger in the air at the yelling behind them.

Lizzie ran through the park, halfway hoping to lose Corrine though she knew Corrine was in better shape than she was.

“Help me.” She said breathlessly when they reached the boulder. Together they pushed it aside and Lizzie gave Corrine a flashlight and a knife.

“You can't- I can't answer any questions and you can't freeze. You have to stay with me if you're going to come. This is your last chance to stay” Lizzie knew her girlfriend. Knew she was brave, that she could handle this if she had been prepared. She didn't know how she would take being thrown into it, but she didn't have a choice.

“I'm staying with you.”

Lizzie didn't have any space in her head to think about how much she loved Corrine as she led her into the opening and they closed it behind them.

They headed down the stairs and Lizzie asked for her keys back when they reached the metal gate with the sign that indicated this was an entrance to the sewers. A safeguard Gregor had thought of to stop Overlanders from wondering in now that their family used the entrance often. She unlocked it and locked it behind her, focusing on her breathing. They hadn't even reached the scary part yet, stairs were still under their feet.

Lizzie went as fast as she could safely, Corrine silent behind her. She stopped only to grab the whistle out of her backpack. She blew into it with every breath. Unconsciously yelling for help in Morse code.

The stairs were gone now, all semblance of light long above them. Corrine stayed silent as asked, only speaking to offer to blow the whistle as Lizzie was getting winded.

“Don't stop.” Lizzie said as she handed the whistle over.

The tunnel they walked through slowly opened, different entrances appearing. Lizzie didn't hesitate in choosing their direction. She focused solely on her goal. Gregor. Ignoring the danger they might be walking into.

Sound to their right made her spin, shining her flashlight at anyone who might be coming. Corrine let out a squeal at the Crawlers who scuttled their way.

“Our Princess, is back, our Princess?” The phrase echoed among the small group.

“No, I'm sorry.” Lizzie said lowering the flashlight, “we need fliers, desperately, can you help?”

“Help, we can, help,” echoed through them as they headed down a different tunnel, too small for humans to walk through.

Lizzie sighed in relief that they were gone and squeezed Corrine's arm in comfort before hurrying back on their path. Lizzie heard Corrine go back to blowing the whistle.

It wasn't long before they heard the beat of giant wings from behind them. Lizzie blinded them with her flashlight and the whistle clattered to the floor as Corrine gasped.

Two bats with riders landed softly, but hissed at the light. Lizzie dropped it when she was the seal of the Regalian military on their uniforms.

“I'm sorry,” she said as they rubbed their eyes, “We need to get to Gregor.”

“May I ask who wishes to see the King?” One of the riders said, he sounded young and wary.

“His sister, Lizzie. Please, the palace.” Corrine grabbed her hand and Lizzie didn't know if it was because she was scared or because Lizzie's voice had broke.

The pair of bonds eyes had adjusted and the other rider gasped and he and his bond bowed, “Of course, Princess Elizabeth, the C-”

“We really need to see Gregor,” Lizzie interrupted. She didn't like all those titles anyway.

“Of course. It will not take long” One of the bats said.

Lizzie dragged Corrine, leaving the whistle on the ground “They won't let you fall, turn your flashlight off and hold on.”

Lizzie waited until Corrine was set before taking the hand of the rider and climbing on herself. She turned off her light and closed her eyes for good measure. She could hear small squeals and gasps coming from Corrine on the bat behind her as they flew.

They landed in the palace after what seemed like forever and Lizzie looked around for a familiar face but her eyes found only Corrine who she couldn't blame for looking awestruck.

“The king has been notified, you can wait for him here.” a man said while gesturing to a room to their right.

Lizzie and Corrine walked hand and hand through an archway to a small room with a table. Lizzie was too anxious to sit down, she paced near the doorway. Corrine walked around, running her fingers along the walls, the table, the chairs, inspecting everything and wanting so badly to ask questions.

“Lizzie what's going on?” They both turned at the familiar voice of Gregor as he walked into the room. Tears sprung up into Lizzie's eyes again as she rushed to hug him. Luxa was not far behind him and echoed Gregor, “Lizzie what is wrong? And who is this?”

Gregor looked over to see Corrine staring at the scene with wide eyes, “Hey Corinne” he said with a laugh, “Luxa this is Corinne, Lizzie's girlfriend, Corrine this is my wife, Luxa.”

“A pleasure.” Luxa said as Lizzie finally found words.

“Dad had a heart attack, Gregor, it's bad.”

“What? When?”

“Just a few hours ago, we've got plane tickets waiting.”

“Of course. Cillian!” He yelled, a man poked his head into the room, “I'll be leaving for-”

“I will come with you,” Luxa said, surprising Lizzie and Gregor.

“I do not want to miss the possible last chance of him meeting his grandchild.” Luxa said. Lizzie had forgotten she was pregnant for a moment. They had tried for so long they had thought one of them was sterile, until a month ago. “Please tell the counsel we are both going, Cillian, We are taking leave to celebrate our child. And pack Gregor's Over clothes for him please.” Cillian hurried off.

“Luxa you shouldn't-” Luxa cut Gregor off.

“I believe I can do as I please.”

He sighed but knew fighting was useless, “Lizzie did you bring extra clothes? Sunglasses?”

Lizzie shook her head, “I didn't bring any actually. It's night though, and we'll get there before sunrise. We can all wear Boots' when we get there I guess.”

“I have a jacket in the car.” Lizzie had forgotten Corrine was there. “And a couple pair of sunglasses.”

“That's perfect,” Gregor said, somehow keeping calm, “Thank you Corrine.” His hands hadn't left Lizzie shoulders. He turned her around and led her back through the archway and to a group of bats already being loaded up with bags.

“Thank you, Cillian.” Gregor and Luxa said almost in unity.

Gregor led Lizzie to a flier and any response Cillian had was lost in the roaring in her ears. She took a deep breath before climbing onto the brown bat behind Luxa.

The took off almost immediately and Lizzie held on to her sister-in-law who she knew had to be worried like she was. Lizzie was excited to leave the Underland though, Luxa's adventure was just beginning.

Lizzie held on tighter as the fliers picked up speed. They were so much faster than the ones that had taken them to Regalia. Luxa rubbed Lizzie's arm, of course she wasn't even holding on.

“We will be okay.”

Lizzie didn't know which way to take Luxa's words, they applied to so much. She buried her face into Luxa's back, the once unfamiliar smell of the Underland now ubiquitous with her brother and comforting.

“Your girlfriend.” Luxa said, turning her head a little to be heard better. “She is very pretty, such colorful hair. I did not know she knew quite yet.”

“She didn't.” Lizzie took a deep breath. “She wouldn't let me go anywhere alone.”

Luxa laughed, “it seems her and I are in a similar predicament.”

Corrine must have told Gregor what entrance they used because he didn't ask Lizzie. They were soon getting back on their feet, Corrine's flashlight lighting up ahead of them. She turned, looking for Lizzie, blinding Luxa and their flier.

“Careful, please Corrine.” Luxa said, her hand covering her eyes.

“Sorry!” Corrine squeaked.

Lizzie could hear the stress in her voice. She walked over to grab her hand, “We're almost back.”

They started the journey up the stairs, Gregor and Luxa much faster than Lizzie and Corrine, especially because they had run all the way down there.

Lizzie's phone started going off when they were close enough to the surface to get signal, text message after text message from Boots. She was never one to send a complete thought in one message. Lizzie started reading them expecting the worst but it was only their flight information and small updates. She had booked three seats, like she had known Luxa would be coming. Boots did know her a lot better than Lizzie did. Lizzie tended to spend her time in the Underland with Ripred and Hazard and a few Nibblers she had befriended, but didn't spend much time down there all together.

It was hard for her to separate her memories from present day. The Underland was so different from when she was younger, so was she, but the memories couldn't be stopped.

Gregor and Luxa were waiting at the entry when Corrine and Lizzie made it to the top, panting.

“Where did you park?” Gregor asked, barely looking in their direction. His attention was fully on Luxa now that they were under an open sky.

Corrine took a deep breath of fresh air before answering, “this way.”

They walked briskly through the park, Luxa getting plenty of attention. It bothered Lizzie the most. As royals, she was sure they were never in short supply of attention. Luxa almost glowed in the dark, though without light you couldn't really see through her skin and she could pass as simply albino Lizzie supposed.

Lizzie kept them off the path as much as possible to stay away from the lights to make it easier on Luxa and make their trip easier.

“Fliers would make this much easier.” Luxa said trying to lighten the mood. Lizzie tried to let her, though her worry had been creeping back. She fought it off by focusing on her senses. Five things she could see. Four things she could hear. Three things she could feel.

“You'll finally get to ride in a car,” Gregor said, “and fly our way. Though it won't be very interesting at night.” He was checking his own phone. Boot's had sent him updates as well. Their dad was stable, but not expected to recover much.

“You don't mind driving us to the airport, right?” Lizzie asked Corrine. She hadn't thought about how that had been implied. Corrine had to work in the morning.

“Not at all.”

They reached the street and neither Lizzie or Corrine remembered the exact place they had parked, so Corrine hit the panic button. They followed the horn to her terrible parking job. A ticket had been placed on her windshield in the hour and a half they had been gone.

Gregor guided Luxa into the back as she shielded her eyes from the bright lights. Lizzie found a pair of sunglasses and handed them back to her. They didn't do much, but she was able to drop her hand.

The car was quiet besides Gregor giving names to everything they passed. Though his voice was strained in stress, he was excited to have finally gotten Luxa Sky-side.

Lizzie focused on the weight of Corrine's hand in hers. On her soft voice singing with the radio. Of the familiar sights around her, instead of their hasty visit to the Underland. She focused on Boots' texts. Her dad was still alive. Waiting for the rest of his children. Everything else was out of her control. She prepared herself for any setbacks.

They still had hours before their flight. The plane was almost guaranteed to be delayed. They were in traffic now. They would hit traffic on the way to the hospital. They would make it though.

Lizzie put her head back and closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing and the amount of commitment Corrine must have if she hadn't jumped ship yet.

They pulled up to the airport drop off and Gregor got out first, letting out Luxa who couldn't figure out the car door. Lizzie turned to Corrine.

“Thank you, so much.”

“That's what I'm here for, hun. Anytime. We’ll talk whenever you get back.”

Lizzie leaned over for a brief kiss before getting out of the car and heading into the brightly lit airport. Corrine left the airport and pulled into the first gas station, blankly staring ahead and trying to process whatever the hell had just happened.

Lizzie, Gregor, and Luxa walked through the airport quickly. With Lizzie briefly panicking about how Luxa could fly without an ID. Gregor only smiled and pulled one out of his bag. It had Luxa's picture and description, but her name and address matched a Margaret Campbell, making Lizzie laugh.

They didn't have any baggage to check and they were soon on the other side of security wondering how to spend the hour they had before their flight. They made the rounds to the shops, explaining things to Luxa who looked anything but royal in Corrine's too big jacket and odd pants. She reached up often to adjust the hood as if her crown were still on.

“I'd kill for a big mac, is anyone else hungry?” Gregor asked, steering them toward food.

“I don't want anything heavy, but I'm game for some stress eating.” Lizzie replied.

“Is there a Subway or something?” Gregor asked, looking around, “Anything processed is going to kill her stomach.” He kissed Luxa's hand that he was holding and they shared a smile. Lizzie missed Corrine.

“There's one,” Lizzie said pointing to their right, “McDonald's in over there.” she said pointing to the left. “We can meet back at the gate, do you have money Gregor?”

Gregor shook his head and seemed reluctant to let Luxa go.

“We're in an airport Gregor, she'll be fine.” Lizzie said, a little laugh escaping her lips at the look he had on his face when Luxa let go of his hand. She handed him a twenty and they left him there, watching carefully.

“I am worried.” Luxa said, “ He is spending so much energy on me, I do not think he is thinking about your father.”

Lizzie led them into the line, watching Luxa's amazement, “It's not hard to be focused on you.” she laughed again. It was nice to shift her attention away from worry.

“I suppose so.” Luxa said.

“Do you see anything familiar?” Lizzie asked, having no idea what to get her.

“Not particularly,” Luxa said, scanning the ingredients, “though those,” she trailed off pointing to a few of the vegetables.

“Vegetables, got it.” Lizzie said. She ordered for them both, filling Luxa's with vegetables she could pick off if she didn't like them.

They headed to the gate, eyes locked on them the whole way. The weight of their stares hunching Lizzie over, but Luxa walked with her head up, her walk smooth. Regal.

Lizzie's phone chimed, it was Corrine.

Let me know when you land, Princess ;)

Lizzie couldn't stop the smile but also groaned a bit,she wouldn't be able to get out of that one.

They had beat Gregor so they found seats and dug in, Luxa asking questions Lizzie didn't always have the answers too. She barely knew how the vegetables grew, let alone how they had been selectively bred to get to where they were.

Gregor joined them soon, visibly relaxing when he sat down next to Luxa. Lizzie stole a handful of fries and they chatted lightly. They were all stressed for various reasons, but pulling on each other for support. They were all comfortable by the time their flight left, Luxa glad the plane was darker than the terminal.

Lizzie somehow drifted to sleep, her head on her brothers shoulder. His steady breathing comforting. He was a lot more accustomed to death than she was. She had not had to deal with it since their grandmother. She had been so lucky. So complacent.

She had Gregor. She had Luxa, though she was currently glued to the plane's window, watching the lights go by underneath them. She would have Boots when they landed. Their mom shortly after. She took another deep breath, banishing the anxiety from her stomach.

Boots' face lit up when she saw them at the airport. A sign that said 'King, Queen, and 1.2 Princesses' in her hands. Lizzie knew they would be okay. She grabbed Boots' hand, no nerves to be found, and they all walked out the doors into the night, always a family.

#tuc #tucfic #lizzie #as always i am incapable of writing short things #this guy though #holy cow #also not my best #but uh hey #at least its content #right?#also strange not writing lizzie and hazard #think this is the first of my universes they aren't together #also i know nothing of new york airports #so i went off good ole chi town ones #and a little indy #midwest #sucks #don't come here hahaha